By Larry Rosenbaum
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” 2 Tim. 3. The big story of this year’s Super Bowl, broadcast to a billion people around the world, involved the arrest of Eugene Robinson. Robinson is a star football player with the Atlanta Falcons. The night before the game, he had been arrested for soliciting a prostitute. Afterwards, the newspapers reported that Robinson is a born-again Christian known for boldly preaching about Jesus Christ. A few hours before his arrest, he had received an award for high moral character from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
These are certainly perilous times. Our President, who claims to be “born-again” and attends a Southern Baptist church, is being tried in the Senate for charges relating to his immoral behavior. According to the polls, most people think it is a private matter and don’t care. Meanwhile, pornographer Larry Flynt, who once claimed to be “born-again,” is paying a million dollars to anyone who can expose immorality in a (Republican) congressman. Several have been exposed.
What are we to make of this? If a liberal such as Rev. Martin Luther King or Rep. Barney Frank is found to be living immorally, people don’t seem to care. But they are outraged when a conservative, especially one who claims to be Christian, is exposed.
This shouldn’t surprise us. “You therefore who teaches another, do you not teach yourself?…You who says a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery” Romans 2:21. When a politician publicly condemns sexual immorality, his personal life must be above reproach. And when a Christian preaches against sin and for righteous living, he had better be living a morally pure life.
“He shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment” James 2:13. The Holy Spirit gives Christians the power to resist temptation and live according to God’s moral code. But Christians sin. Some even commit such “gross” sins as adultery. Let us show mercy to those believers who fall, and help restore them in a spirit of humility. “These things I write unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.
When a woman was brought to Jesus as an adulterer, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to publicly condemn her. Instead he showed mercy: “Go and sin no more.” We say that we should “hate the sin and love the sinner.” Often, we are known more for hating the sin than loving the sinner.
Jim Bakker’s fall brought great reproach to the cause of Christ. But a few Christians showed mercy by ministering to him in prison. He has repented, and God has restored him to ministry. When a Christian is caught in immorality, it makes it harder for us to preach the gospel. Non-Christians have another excuse to regard all Christians as hypocrites. We need to respond by ministering to people as Jesus did. He loved people, showed mercy to them, and avoided all self-righteousness. He spoke the truth in love.
